October 28, 2025 • 12 mins
Medicare shouldn’t feel like a riddle with moving parts, yet so many seniors are stuck choosing between confusing options, conflicting advice, and high-pressure pitches. We sat down with Danny Haire—who’s spent 52 years in the insurance world leading Financial Services Inc. and Senior Benefit Inc.—to break through the noise with straight talk, practical frameworks, and a client-first mindset that prioritizes people over policies.
We walk through how Danny built a nationwide brokerage and why his team now leans on an in-house, highly trained group serving seniors directly. That structure isn’t about control; it’s about quality. Every call is recorded to ensure accuracy, compliance, and consistent explanations of the differences between Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D. You’ll hear why hearsay from neighbors or casual advice at the checkout line can become expensive mistakes, and how a trained advisor can check formularies, doctors, and travel needs to match coverage with real life. Expect actionable clarity on premiums versus out-of-pocket costs, network stability, and the trade-offs that actually matter during enrollment.
Along the way, Danny shares the human side of this work: shifting from door-to-door visits to phone-based service, staying grounded in ethics, and keeping the mission simple—find the best policy at the best price for each person. We talk about how local, ongoing support in Knoxville helps seniors adapt as plans change each year, and why the most valuable advice is sometimes “you’re already in the right place.” If Medicare choices have felt like a maze, this conversation offers a map you can trust.
If this helped you see your options more clearly, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s weighing Medicare choices, and leave a quick review so more neighbors can find trusted guidance.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
(00:02):
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
SPEAKER_02 (00:05):
Here's your host, Skip Money.
Well, hello everyone, andwelcome to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
So I am very excited today uh tohave a very special guest for
the first time in our studio.
So we're excited to learn allabout them and their business.
And I'm sure you will be as wellbecause today I have the
(00:25):
pleasure of introducing yourgood neighbor, Mr.
Danny Hare.
Am I pronouncing that correctly,Danny?
SPEAKER_01 (00:30):
That's correct, sir.
SPEAKER_02 (00:31):
Danny Hare, who is with Financial Services Inc.
Danny, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_01 (00:36):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (00:38):
We're glad, like I said, glad to have you and uh
very interested to learn allabout you and and Financial
Services Inc.
So if you don't mind, why don'tyou kick us off by telling us
about your business?
SPEAKER_01 (00:49):
Okay, thank you, Skip.
Uh Financial Services wasstarted from scratch uh in 1995,
and uh it was basically a uh arecruiting brokers in the field,
and uh we built it you know fromthere and then uh in 2012, 2013,
(01:13):
we started another companythat's solely owned by financial
services.
It's called Senior Benefit Inc.
And that's where most of ourefforts have been uh in these
last few years because it is adirect to consumer, it's not a
call center, but is a direct toconsumer sales.
(01:33):
And uh all the agents in it arein-house, uh, they're highly
trained by by us.
Uh we record all of theirconversations, you know, all
their every time they talk toanyone, that conversation is is
recorded so that we we know forsure everything is being said
correctly, and uh that has grownnicely.
(01:56):
We do uh uh concentrate almostsolely on uh the senior market,
uh, since I am one of thosepeople.
We relate well to them.
But uh, you know, that's uhthat's where our efforts have
been the last year.
We still have our brokerageoperation.
Matter of fact, we've got 20,000plus brokers across the United
(02:17):
States.
We've been very blessed, verylucky, uh, and things have
really really gone well for usuh in the insurance profession.
SPEAKER_02 (02:26):
Wow, that's incredibly how many across the
country?
SPEAKER_01 (02:29):
It's over 20,000.
SPEAKER_02 (02:31):
20,000.
Wow.
Well, congratulations on that.
That's how that's incredible.
SPEAKER_01 (02:35):
Well, there's some, you know, we've done some uh
some product development forcompanies, and of course, for
people or for agents to sellthat product, they had to be
contracted under us.
So that helped grow that number.
And uh, but like I said, we'rereally trying to focus on the
the in-house agents because wehave so much better control, uh,
(02:55):
making sure that people are toldexactly what's correct, and and
making sure that they're youknow, our uh with senior
benefit, our our motto is weknow Medicare, and we make sure
that everyone that's on thephone representing us, they do
know Medicare and the seniormarket.
SPEAKER_02 (03:14):
Very good, very good.
Well, Danny, how did uh how didyou get into this business?
SPEAKER_01 (03:19):
Uh just lucky, I guess.
I you know uh uh matter of fact,I initially got into this
business because of a uhinsurance agent that uh I was
home from college uh gettingready to graduate, and uh an
agent that my mother and daddyhad insurance with was in their
(03:39):
house, and we got to talking andI went out on a few calls with
them, and then when I uhgraduated to college, I got my
license.
And uh, like all people, youknow, I I got into it for a few
years and uh got married and youknow things changed, and uh we
moved from Knoxville to anothertown, so I got out of the
(04:03):
insurance business for about 18,20 months, then got back into
the business and been in andhave been in it ever since.
Uh and this is actually my 52ndyear in the insurance business.
SPEAKER_02 (04:17):
Wow.
Well, congratulations.
That's nothing to sneeze at.
Yeah, of course, of course youdid.
Well, um uh Danny, what are somemyths or misconceptions in your
in your industry?
SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
Oh gosh, skip.
I don't know where to start.
You know, most uh I think we'reabout two steps above a used car
salesman with a lot of people,uh and a lot of that's you know
is our own fault, you know.
Uh but you know, people, youknow, nobody likes to talk about
insurance.
(04:52):
Nobody likes insurance untiluntil they need it.
Uh and unfortunately in ourbusiness, uh, if you need it,
it's too late to get it.
Uh, but it's just uh peopledon't, you know, especially in
the Medicare market.
Uh I think the federalgovernment goes out of their way
to make Medicare confusing.
Uh and they're just there's justa lot of, and again, that's why
(05:15):
we stress with our agents, youknow, keeping them highly
trained and very knowledgeable,because most of the people we
talk to either have amisconception, they've been told
incorrectly.
Uh it's uh it's really amazingwhere some people will take
their uh uh insuranceinformation from.
(05:36):
We talked to a lady uh and shehad been told by the cashier at
Walmart what she ought to do,and it was totally wrong.
But you know, it's uh it's justthey'll listen to uh their
neighbors, their family, and notsaying that they they shouldn't,
but unless you're talking tosomeone that deals in this,
(05:56):
because like I said, thegovernment goes out of their way
to make make it difficult andmake it confusing.
Talking to someone that deals inthis day in and day out and
really knows the ins and outs ofit.
Uh, and I just you know, that'sthe problem, you know, just
people hear so many differentthings, and it just adds to the
confusion.
SPEAKER_02 (06:16):
Absolutely.
Just talk to a professional.
Yes, don't listen to a cashierat Walmart.
No offense to them.
SPEAKER_01 (06:26):
I couldn't write a cash register either, so you
know.
SPEAKER_02 (06:29):
Well, there you go.
Same here, same here.
So, so uh Danny, uh it soundslike you're you're pretty busy
all the time, but when uh whenyou're not outside of work, what
do you like to do for fun?
SPEAKER_01 (06:40):
Uh unfortunately, I've kind of got set in my ways.
You know, I'm usually in myoffice seven days a week, but uh
I do now have a uh I guess he'sa nine-month-old grandson.
So uh that's kind of changedperspective a little bit for an
old man.
But uh, you know, enjoying him.
(07:02):
I just uh uh we got 10 acres ofland, you know, in Knox County,
believe it or not.
And uh I enjoy, you know, uh wehave a garden in the springtime.
We have uh uh I mow about sixacres of it myself, which is I
tell everybody that's my mentaltherapy, uh, to get out on my
tractor, you know, by myself.
(07:23):
And uh nobody knows that I'mtalking to myself then.
So uh but you know, it's um I uhI'm 73 years old, so my life is
you know kind of simple, butlike I said, the uh the grandson
has changed things uh a wholelot.
SPEAKER_02 (07:40):
Absolutely.
Time with family, always thebest answer.
SPEAKER_01 (07:43):
Always, yes.
SPEAKER_02 (07:45):
So uh Danny, if uh if you could think of one thing
um that uh you would like ourlisteners to remember about you
and and your company, what wouldthat be?
SPEAKER_01 (07:58):
Well, uh about me, I mean, because like I said, you
know, I I've been in thebusiness for for 52 years.
I've seen a you know uh atremendous uh ups and downs of
things.
The business is you know thebusiness today is totally
different when I first got intoit.
Uh majority of the insurance issold over the telephone, which
(08:19):
being an old door knocker, thatyou just uh I hate that, but
that's just the way it is today.
But uh as far as myself, it'sjust uh anything that's come
along, uh it's always been, youknow, keep your head down, keep
doing what you know is right,keep treating people correctly,
the way you'd want to betreated, and and everything will
(08:42):
work out, you know, in the longrun.
You know, you may suffer alittle bit along the way, but
it's gonna be okay.
And and that's kind of you know,with our company, uh the person
on the other end of the phone orthe person we're sitting across
from talking to, that is theirneeds, their want, those are the
our main concern.
(09:03):
You know, we uh we did uh a TDad not long ago, and one of the
the sayings that are that we hadwas that uh you know our our
main our mission is to find thebest policy at the best price
for the person that we'redealing with.
Uh we ask a lot of questions.
We want to find out becausewe're gonna we want to take you
(09:25):
know we want to make sure thatyou uh have a good retirement,
you know, uh and things go wellfor you uh in your older age and
making sure that things aretaken care of that you don't
have to worry about.
SPEAKER_02 (09:42):
Very good thing to remember.
The personal touch is important,yes, sir.
Absolutely.
So um uh for uh Danny, uh forthose of our listeners and
viewers that uh are intrigued,would like to do a consultation
or meet with somebody, talk withyou guys, how can they learn
more?
SPEAKER_01 (10:01):
Uh our phone number is 865-862-4298, and our street
address is 243 North PetersRoad, Knoxville, Tennessee,
37923.
We're just right off of CedarBluff.
(10:22):
And if anybody's familiar withKnoxville, um, and uh our we got
our name in multiple places,you'll see.
So uh, but we would love to havethe opportunity to try to help
people.
And you know, I would be remissand if I didn't, you know, if
you call us and we and askquestions, uh our services are
(10:44):
free, you know.
Uh whether you buy a policy ornot, we're here to try to help
people, and that's our main,that's our main goal.
You know, how can we help you?
And that may be sending yousomewhere else, that may be
answering just your questions,just maybe reinforcing what you
think is is right, and and we'llbe sure to tell you that.
SPEAKER_02 (11:06):
Check them out in Knoxville.
Um, and you said you were at243.
I'm sorry, what north?
What was that road?
SPEAKER_01 (11:13):
North Peters Road, Peters P-E-T-E-R-S, Peters Road.
SPEAKER_02 (11:18):
Peters, North Peters, North Peters Road.
Very good.
All right.
Well, Danny, I can't tell youhow much I appreciate you taking
time out of your busy scheduleto hang out with us and tell us
all about your business and whatyou can do for the for the folks
in Knoxville and uh EastTennessee.
And uh moving forward, wish you,your family, grandchild, and and
all your clients and yourbusiness all the best moving
(11:39):
forward.
SPEAKER_01 (11:40):
Thank you, Skip.
I appreciate it.
SPEAKER_02 (11:42):
Absolutely, and maybe we can have you back
sometime.
SPEAKER_01 (11:47):
We'd love the opportunity.
SPEAKER_02 (11:49):
All right.
Well, until then, we'll see yousoon.
SPEAKER_00 (11:53):
Thank you.
Thank you for listening to theGood Neighbor Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on the
show, go to GNP Tri-Dash Citiesdot com.
That's GNP Tri-Dash Cities dotcom or call four two three seven
one nine five eight seven seventhree.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
(00:02):
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
SPEAKER_02 (00:05):
Here's your host, Skip Money.
Well, hello everyone, andwelcome to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
So I am very excited today uh tohave a very special guest for
the first time in our studio.
So we're excited to learn allabout them and their business.
And I'm sure you will be as wellbecause today I have the
(00:25):
pleasure of introducing yourgood neighbor, Mr.
Danny Hare.
Am I pronouncing that correctly,Danny?
SPEAKER_01 (00:30):
That's correct, sir.
SPEAKER_02 (00:31):
Danny Hare, who is with Financial Services Inc.
Danny, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_01 (00:36):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (00:38):
We're glad, like I said, glad to have you and uh
very interested to learn allabout you and and Financial
Services Inc.
So if you don't mind, why don'tyou kick us off by telling us
about your business?
SPEAKER_01 (00:49):
Okay, thank you, Skip.
Uh Financial Services wasstarted from scratch uh in 1995,
and uh it was basically a uh arecruiting brokers in the field,
and uh we built it you know fromthere and then uh in 2012, 2013,
(01:13):
we started another companythat's solely owned by financial
services.
It's called Senior Benefit Inc.
And that's where most of ourefforts have been uh in these
last few years because it is adirect to consumer, it's not a
call center, but is a direct toconsumer sales.
(01:33):
And uh all the agents in it arein-house, uh, they're highly
trained by by us.
Uh we record all of theirconversations, you know, all
their every time they talk toanyone, that conversation is is
recorded so that we we know forsure everything is being said
correctly, and uh that has grownnicely.
(01:56):
We do uh uh concentrate almostsolely on uh the senior market,
uh, since I am one of thosepeople.
We relate well to them.
But uh, you know, that's uhthat's where our efforts have
been the last year.
We still have our brokerageoperation.
Matter of fact, we've got 20,000plus brokers across the United
(02:17):
States.
We've been very blessed, verylucky, uh, and things have
really really gone well for usuh in the insurance profession.
SPEAKER_02 (02:26):
Wow, that's incredibly how many across the
country?
SPEAKER_01 (02:29):
It's over 20,000.
SPEAKER_02 (02:31):
20,000.
Wow.
Well, congratulations on that.
That's how that's incredible.
SPEAKER_01 (02:35):
Well, there's some, you know, we've done some uh
some product development forcompanies, and of course, for
people or for agents to sellthat product, they had to be
contracted under us.
So that helped grow that number.
And uh, but like I said, we'rereally trying to focus on the
the in-house agents because wehave so much better control, uh,
(02:55):
making sure that people are toldexactly what's correct, and and
making sure that they're youknow, our uh with senior
benefit, our our motto is weknow Medicare, and we make sure
that everyone that's on thephone representing us, they do
know Medicare and the seniormarket.
SPEAKER_02 (03:14):
Very good, very good.
Well, Danny, how did uh how didyou get into this business?
SPEAKER_01 (03:19):
Uh just lucky, I guess.
I you know uh uh matter of fact,I initially got into this
business because of a uhinsurance agent that uh I was
home from college uh gettingready to graduate, and uh an
agent that my mother and daddyhad insurance with was in their
(03:39):
house, and we got to talking andI went out on a few calls with
them, and then when I uhgraduated to college, I got my
license.
And uh, like all people, youknow, I I got into it for a few
years and uh got married and youknow things changed, and uh we
moved from Knoxville to anothertown, so I got out of the
(04:03):
insurance business for about 18,20 months, then got back into
the business and been in andhave been in it ever since.
Uh and this is actually my 52ndyear in the insurance business.
SPEAKER_02 (04:17):
Wow.
Well, congratulations.
That's nothing to sneeze at.
Yeah, of course, of course youdid.
Well, um uh Danny, what are somemyths or misconceptions in your
in your industry?
SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
Oh gosh, skip.
I don't know where to start.
You know, most uh I think we'reabout two steps above a used car
salesman with a lot of people,uh and a lot of that's you know
is our own fault, you know.
Uh but you know, people, youknow, nobody likes to talk about
insurance.
(04:52):
Nobody likes insurance untiluntil they need it.
Uh and unfortunately in ourbusiness, uh, if you need it,
it's too late to get it.
Uh, but it's just uh peopledon't, you know, especially in
the Medicare market.
Uh I think the federalgovernment goes out of their way
to make Medicare confusing.
Uh and they're just there's justa lot of, and again, that's why
(05:15):
we stress with our agents, youknow, keeping them highly
trained and very knowledgeable,because most of the people we
talk to either have amisconception, they've been told
incorrectly.
Uh it's uh it's really amazingwhere some people will take
their uh uh insuranceinformation from.
(05:36):
We talked to a lady uh and shehad been told by the cashier at
Walmart what she ought to do,and it was totally wrong.
But you know, it's uh it's justthey'll listen to uh their
neighbors, their family, and notsaying that they they shouldn't,
but unless you're talking tosomeone that deals in this,
(05:56):
because like I said, thegovernment goes out of their way
to make make it difficult andmake it confusing.
Talking to someone that deals inthis day in and day out and
really knows the ins and outs ofit.
Uh, and I just you know, that'sthe problem, you know, just
people hear so many differentthings, and it just adds to the
confusion.
SPEAKER_02 (06:16):
Absolutely.
Just talk to a professional.
Yes, don't listen to a cashierat Walmart.
No offense to them.
SPEAKER_01 (06:26):
I couldn't write a cash register either, so you
know.
SPEAKER_02 (06:29):
Well, there you go.
Same here, same here.
So, so uh Danny, uh it soundslike you're you're pretty busy
all the time, but when uh whenyou're not outside of work, what
do you like to do for fun?
SPEAKER_01 (06:40):
Uh unfortunately, I've kind of got set in my ways.
You know, I'm usually in myoffice seven days a week, but uh
I do now have a uh I guess he'sa nine-month-old grandson.
So uh that's kind of changedperspective a little bit for an
old man.
But uh, you know, enjoying him.
(07:02):
I just uh uh we got 10 acres ofland, you know, in Knox County,
believe it or not.
And uh I enjoy, you know, uh wehave a garden in the springtime.
We have uh uh I mow about sixacres of it myself, which is I
tell everybody that's my mentaltherapy, uh, to get out on my
tractor, you know, by myself.
(07:23):
And uh nobody knows that I'mtalking to myself then.
So uh but you know, it's um I uhI'm 73 years old, so my life is
you know kind of simple, butlike I said, the uh the grandson
has changed things uh a wholelot.
SPEAKER_02 (07:40):
Absolutely.
Time with family, always thebest answer.
SPEAKER_01 (07:43):
Always, yes.
SPEAKER_02 (07:45):
So uh Danny, if uh if you could think of one thing
um that uh you would like ourlisteners to remember about you
and and your company, what wouldthat be?
SPEAKER_01 (07:58):
Well, uh about me, I mean, because like I said, you
know, I I've been in thebusiness for for 52 years.
I've seen a you know uh atremendous uh ups and downs of
things.
The business is you know thebusiness today is totally
different when I first got intoit.
Uh majority of the insurance issold over the telephone, which
(08:19):
being an old door knocker, thatyou just uh I hate that, but
that's just the way it is today.
But uh as far as myself, it'sjust uh anything that's come
along, uh it's always been, youknow, keep your head down, keep
doing what you know is right,keep treating people correctly,
the way you'd want to betreated, and and everything will
(08:42):
work out, you know, in the longrun.
You know, you may suffer alittle bit along the way, but
it's gonna be okay.
And and that's kind of you know,with our company, uh the person
on the other end of the phone orthe person we're sitting across
from talking to, that is theirneeds, their want, those are the
our main concern.
(09:03):
You know, we uh we did uh a TDad not long ago, and one of the
the sayings that are that we hadwas that uh you know our our
main our mission is to find thebest policy at the best price
for the person that we'redealing with.
Uh we ask a lot of questions.
We want to find out becausewe're gonna we want to take you
(09:25):
know we want to make sure thatyou uh have a good retirement,
you know, uh and things go wellfor you uh in your older age and
making sure that things aretaken care of that you don't
have to worry about.
SPEAKER_02 (09:42):
Very good thing to remember.
The personal touch is important,yes, sir.
Absolutely.
So um uh for uh Danny, uh forthose of our listeners and
viewers that uh are intrigued,would like to do a consultation
or meet with somebody, talk withyou guys, how can they learn
more?
SPEAKER_01 (10:01):
Uh our phone number is 865-862-4298, and our street
address is 243 North PetersRoad, Knoxville, Tennessee,
37923.
We're just right off of CedarBluff.
(10:22):
And if anybody's familiar withKnoxville, um, and uh our we got
our name in multiple places,you'll see.
So uh, but we would love to havethe opportunity to try to help
people.
And you know, I would be remissand if I didn't, you know, if
you call us and we and askquestions, uh our services are
(10:44):
free, you know.
Uh whether you buy a policy ornot, we're here to try to help
people, and that's our main,that's our main goal.
You know, how can we help you?
And that may be sending yousomewhere else, that may be
answering just your questions,just maybe reinforcing what you
think is is right, and and we'llbe sure to tell you that.
SPEAKER_02 (11:06):
Check them out in Knoxville.
Um, and you said you were at243.
I'm sorry, what north?
What was that road?
SPEAKER_01 (11:13):
North Peters Road, Peters P-E-T-E-R-S, Peters Road.
SPEAKER_02 (11:18):
Peters, North Peters, North Peters Road.
Very good.
All right.
Well, Danny, I can't tell youhow much I appreciate you taking
time out of your busy scheduleto hang out with us and tell us
all about your business and whatyou can do for the for the folks
in Knoxville and uh EastTennessee.
And uh moving forward, wish you,your family, grandchild, and and
all your clients and yourbusiness all the best moving
(11:39):
forward.
SPEAKER_01 (11:40):
Thank you, Skip.
I appreciate it.
SPEAKER_02 (11:42):
Absolutely, and maybe we can have you back
sometime.
SPEAKER_01 (11:47):
We'd love the opportunity.
SPEAKER_02 (11:49):
All right.
Well, until then, we'll see yousoon.
SPEAKER_00 (11:53):
Thank you.
Thank you for listening to theGood Neighbor Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on the
show, go to GNP Tri-Dash Citiesdot com.
That's GNP Tri-Dash Cities dotcom or call four two three seven
one nine five eight seven seventhree.
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